Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) declares in an op-ed in the Washington Times that “some in Congress do not understand” that a “modern airlift fleet is essential” to get US forces to hotspots fast. As with an earlier letter that responded to a Washington Post article, Saxton urges his fellow lawmakers to let the Air Force manage its airlift fleet, by removing restrictions on retiring some older aircraft, principally C-5A strategic airlifters. He says prolonging the life of the oldest C-5s “costs the American taxpayer untold billions of dollars and leaves us with an inferior strategic airlift fleet.” He favors continuing the C-17 production line for a while longer.
The last remaining T-1 Jayhawk at JBSA-Randolph, Texas, took its final flight to the "Boneyard" at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., on July 15. The 99th Flying Training Squadron will train pilots using T-6 and simulator until it gets T-7 Red Hawk in fiscal 2026.